Watermelon

Summer and watermelon are inseparable. Watermelons are found almost everywhere in the world. Although we can find watermelons in our markets throughout the year, the season for watermelon is the summer when they are sweet and of the best quality. No other fruit can we find so crunchy and thirst quenching like watermelon.

 History

Watermelons are generally believed to have originated in Africa several thousand years ago and to have traveled over time from Africa to Asia to Europe to North America. Their arrival in Asia and the Middle East is believed to date back to approximately 900–1,000 A.D., and their arrival in Europe is estimated to have occurred in 1300–1400 A.D. It was not until Europeans began to colonize North America that watermelons arrived in what is now the U.S.

APPLE And It’s Health Benefits

Apples have a rounded shape with a depression at the top where the stem is attached. Some apples are almost perfectly round, while others are more rounded at the top and narrower at the bottom. In addition, some have knobby lobes at the calyx end (bottom) of the fruit. Apple fruits are firm and the skin is shiny and smooth. The color of the skin can be red, green, yellow, or a combination of those colors. The flesh is white or ivory.

As one of the most cultivated and consumed fruits in the world, apples are continuously being praised as a "miracle food". Apples are extremely rich in important antioxidants, flavanoids, and dietary fiber.

The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

This Medical News Today information article on apples provides a nutritional breakdown of the fruit, its health benefits, risks and precautions and some frequently asked questions.

Health Benefits of Eating Fruits

LIST OF FRUITS

Adding fruit to your diet is a surefire way to become healthier. A daily intake of fruit can benefit your body in many ways. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel when you start eating more fruit. Keep reading to uncover some amazing things that fruit does for you body.
You know that you need to drink more water. But if you are like most people, you don't get your six to eight glasses of water per day. But did you know that fruit is 80% water? So if you add more fruit to your diet, you will be getting more water in your diet. There is no other food on the planet that contains this much water.
If you have digestive problems such as abdominal cramping, constipation or diarrhea, you can alleviate some of these symptoms by eating fruit. Fruits contain natural fiber that will help to regulate your bowel movements. It has also been proven that fruits are very effective in lowering your cholesterol levels. This can help to prevent heart disease and stroke.
Other studies are finding evidence that fruit helps to stimulate the memory. People who eat fruit on a regular basis are able to retain information and recall it faster than those who do not make fruit a part of their diet. Studies have also proven that people who eat fruit or drink fruit juices on a regular basis will decrease their risk of getting Alzheimer's disease by as much as 76%.
One great reason to eat fruit is that it is relatively inexpensive. Some people think that fresh fruit is too expensive and they cannot afford it. But think about the price you pay for the take out meals or that pack of potato chips. If you make it a habit to replace those unhealthy snacks with fruit, you will not notice a difference in your food bill. If fact, it may be less! The real benefit to replacing unhealthy snacks with fruits is the fact that you are becoming much healthier. There is no way to put a price on your health.
We must remember that fruit is the most natural food on the planet. There are not many other types of food that you can just pick from the tree or bush and pop into your mouth without having to cook it first. Your body craves these all natural foods. Fruit is food the way it is meant to be.
So if you think that fruit is not that important to your health, think again. It can provide your body with water, improve your memory and it can help prevent disease. There are so many benefits in something that is all natural and so easily obtainable. Do your body a favor and start eating more fruit. You will love the way you look and feel.
http://www.naturalfoodbenefits.com/benefits_fruits.asp?CAT=1

Health Benefits of Banana

 

Bananas are a great food for all round health benefits, for the average person, dieter or even athletes bananas may provide greater benefits than most fruits. The combination of carbohydrates and B vitamins present in a banana helps provide an energy boost which makes them great to eat 30 minutes before a workout, or even at breakfast to help boost energy at the start of every day.

Health Benefits of Banana

• Bananas are good for your heart and nerves: Bananas contain a high dose of potassium - an essential ingredient to keep your heart and nervous system in good shape. Potassium is essential for proper muscle contraction and hence plays an important role in muscle-influenced activities including: the normal rhythmic pumping of the heart, digestion, muscular movements, etc., Some studies have also linked low potassium intake to high blood pressure and increased risk of stroke. Most Americans don’t get enough potassium in their diet (recommended dose is about 4 g per day) - blame it on our fast food culture. Including a banana (or two) in your diet everyday would take you a step closer towards getting your daily recommended dose of potassium.

Pawpaw and Its Health Benefit

Papayas are spherical or pear-shaped fruits that can be as long as 20 inches. The ones commonly found in the market usually average about 7 inches and weigh about one pound. Their flesh is a rich orange color with either yellow or pink hues.

Papaya has a wonderfully soft, butter-like consistency and a deliciously sweet, musky taste. Inside the inner cavity of the fruit are black, round seeds encased in a gelatinous-like substance. Papaya's seeds are edible, although their peppery flavor is somewhat bitter.

Health Benefits of Orange

Orange

Oranges are oval to sphere-shaped fruits with leathery, porous skin. Their color ranges from orange to red-orange. Oranges may be confused with other citrus fruits, such as grapefruits and tangerines. However, grapefruits are usually much larger and more yellow than oranges, and tangerines have a more flattened sphere shape than oranges.

Health Benefits of Orange

An orange packs over 170 different phytonutrients and more than 60 flavonoids, many of which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour and blood clot inhibiting properties, as well as strong anti-oxidant effects.

The combination of the high amount of anti-oxidant (vitamin C) and flavonoids in oranges makes it one of the best fruits in helping to promote optimal health.

Health Benefits of Natural Foods

The term "natural" gets thrown around a lot these days. From food product labels to chefs, there seems to be a belief that anything "natural" is "good." That leads the savvy consumer to ask what "natural" really means.
Legally, food labeled "natural" does not contain any artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients, or chemical preservatives, and, in the case of meat and poultry, is "minimally processed." Sounds good. But what does all that really mean?
Meat from animals treated with artificial hormones can (and is) labeled "natural," as is meat injected with saline solution (claimed to add flavor, which it does, but it also adds considerable weight to a product sold by the pound). For more about meat labeling, Similarly, foods containing "natural flavors," such as processed proteins that you may or may not consider desirable, can legally sport the label "natural."

Health Benefits of Eating Fish

Health Benefits of Eating Fish 

The fact the average age of people developing and dying from heart disease is constantly decreasing has considerably increased the importance attached to coronary health. Although a great many advances have been registered in the treatment of heart disease, experts in the field basically recommend that careful precautions be taken before such diseases ever arise. Experts also recommend one important foodstuff for the healthy functioning of the heart and the prevention of disease: fish.
The reason why fish is such an important source of nutrition is that it both provides substances necessary for the human body and also reduces the risk of various diseases. For example, it has been revealed that when fish—which acts as a shield in terms of health with the omega-3 acid it contains—is consumed on a regular basis, it reduces the risk of heart disease and strengthens the immune system.

Health Benefits of Eating Meat

Health Benefits of Eating Meat

There are innumerable health benefits of eating meat, to say, for example, it serves as a fabulous source of high quality proteins, which a single vegetarian food is not able to provide. It contains all the essential amino acids that the body requiThe red meat contains very high quantities of iron, when compared with plant origin foods. 100 grams of Liver contains 6000 mcgm of iron as against 325 mcgm in 100-gram carrots. Read further to explore information about the advantages of eating meat.

The phosphorus content present in meat gets much more easily absorbed than that present in cereals and legumes. This is owing to the fact that cereals and legumes contain phosphorus, usually in the form of phytic acid that must be hydrolyzed before absorption. Meat also serves as the main source for the intake of vitamin B12.

Though meat is rich in nutrients, but, there are certain things that meat lacks in. It doesn't contain any kind of fiber, which helps to keep your digestive system in order. Also it is very high in saturated fats, thus it is recommended to eat meat, but in moderate quantities.eat, but in moderate quantities.

Preserved meats like ham, bacon, salami etc should be avoided, as they are very high in terms of fats, salts, nitrites and nitrates that are often held responsible for causing cancer. It is recommended to eat not more than 60-75 grams of meat per day and not more than thrice a week.
http://www.naturalfoodbenefits.com/benefits_fish.asp?CAT=4

Health Benefits of Turkey

Turkey

      For most people, the thought of turkey evokes images of family, friends, celebration and giving thanks since it has long been associated with holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yet, recently turkey has added something more to its repetoire than being a holiday food. It is now thought of as a delicious and nutritious meat that can be enjoyed on any day of the year. The rise in popularity of this lean meat has also been spurred by the increased availability of individual turkey pieces such as breasts, tenderloins, cutlets and ground turkey. These alternatives to cooking a whole turkey have made it more convenient for people to easily incorporate turkey into their diets.

Health Benefits of Turkey

• Turkey is a good source of protein.Just one serving of turkey provides 65 percent of your recommended daily intake of protein.
• Turkey contains trace minerals that can help prevent cancer.
• Turkey contains selenium which plays an essential role in helping to eliminate cancer-friendly free radicals in the body.
• Turkey is a good source of vitamins B3 and B6. Vitamin B3 helps lower blood cholesterol, it is essential for healthy skin, and helps improve brain function. Vitamin B6 helps in maintaining the tone of muscles, it aids in the production of anti-bodies and red blood cells and it is essential for normal growth. A serving of turkey meat has 36 percent of the daily allowance of B3 and 27 percent of your recommended intake of B6.
• Turkey is naturally low in fat without the skin, it only contain 1 gram of fat per ounce of flesh.

http://www.naturalfoodbenefits.com/display.asp?CAT=3&ID=106

Health Benefits of Chicken

Chicken

Chicken is a very popular food in this country as well as throughout the world. And no wonder since it is delicious, nutritious and can be prepared a multitude of ways. From southern fried chicken to barbequed chicken to tandoori chicken to homemade chicken soup, chicken is appreciated and valued by people of all ages as well as by diverse cultural culinary traditions.
      

Health Benefits of Chicken

•  Eating organic chicken is an excellent way of minimizing risk of exposure to antibiotics and synthetic pesticides, as well as the harmful bacteria that are more likely to be found in meat produced in confined animal feeding operations (CAFO's).
• Lean organic chicken is a very good source of high density, low fat protein, and a good source of selenium, zinc, niacin, Vitamin E, betacarotene, and Vitamins B6 and B12.
• Meat products from chickens allowed access to the outdoors has 21% less total fat, 30% less saturated fat, 28% fewer calories, 50% more vitamin A, and 100% more omega-3 fatty acid than from chickens not allowed outdoor access (USDA Sustainable Agriculture & Research Education Program).

http://www.naturalfoodbenefits.com/display.asp?CAT=3&ID=89

WEIGHT LOSS FACTS

It is really a worthwhile effort you know what to do in other to find solution to your weight loss. This no doubt brings us to consider weight loss facts. That is, essential facts that you need to be aware of.
MYTH 1: Setting a big weight loss goal. Many people think that setting a big weight loss affords you losing a significant amount of weight.
FACT: Studies have shown that if you do not expect to lose a lot of weight, then you need not to. Common sense, it seems, but conventional wisdom is to keep your expectations low because weight loss is somewhat hard and many people get frustrated if they fail to achieve their goals. The truth is that you will only lose big if you think big.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO: You can do well to set your weight loss goals high. If you set 10 pounds as your goal, you might succeed, but if you need to lose 50 pounds, you will fail. If you want or need to lose 50 or 100 pounds, then name it. Own it. And you will lose it.
MYTH 2: Another weight loss facts is that: If you lose weight hastily you will rebound and gain it back. People think that going for a rapid weight loss strategy will work as quick as expected. And the opposite is the result if you go for a slow gradual approach.
FACT: Studies show that if you drop weight quickly, you end up with more weight loss in the end.

BEST WEIGHT LOSS DIET.... WHAT TO EXAMINE

The best weight loss diet that is effective and work well for a long period of time must be the one that fit your personal life style and your food preferences.
Watching your food intake can be so rewarding if, you have the mind of doing it in a long time approach.
Long time approach..?
Yes, some are fond of dieting for a few times or for a certain period of time and they do this because of a special event coming their way very soon like birthday party, wedding program or family re-union party. And after this special event, they started gaining the lost weight back.
Why?
Because, off they go to there normal and unexamined food intake which give them excess calories which will later store as excessive fat in there body. Then, there effort proved unsuccessful.
So, your mentality and approach towards losing more pounds matters a lot.
Now you may ask…
Which Type Of Weight Loss Diet Is Best For Me?
Well, you should know that there is no such weight loss diet in the market that has the “one-size fit all” solution. Never be deceived by the advert made by some advertisers because what you have as an aim may be different to others. For example, you may wish to loss just tens of pounds while other people may be willing to loss hundreds of pounds, your approach to this same diet may not yield the same perfect results. That shows that you need a weight loss profile.

An Introduction To TEA

Tea is an aromatic stimulant, containing various polyphenols, essential oils, and caffeine. The beverage is of the same genus as the important horticultural plant, Camellia, an evergreen prized for its particularly beautiful flowers.
The tea plant itself is Camellia sinensis, a native of Southeast Asia. The tea brewed from the dried leaves of this plant has been drunk in China probably for thousands of years and certainly since the 10th century BC, from which time written records of its use survive. After the introduction of tea in 1657, Britain became the only European country of tea drinkers rather than coffee drinkers. In recent years, however, coffee has gained in popularity, challenging tea's status. Tea was introduced into North America by early settlers but was heavily taxed by the British, eventually resulting in the well-known Boston Tea Party of 1773. Tea is drunk by about half of the world's population. China, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Japan are the main producers.
Leaf buds and young leaves (the 'tips') are used in making tea, the age of the leaves determining the taste and name of the particular commercial variety. Orange pekoe is made from the youngest leaves and souchong from the fourth leaves. After picking, the leaves either are dried immediately and completely to produce green teas, such as gunpowder, or are partially dried and then allowed to ferment to produce various kinds of black teas, such as orange pekoe and souchong. Oolong tea is partially fired and then steamed, thus being intermediate between green and black teas.
After being sorted on the basis of size, all grades of tea are packed in foil-lined chests to prevent the absorption of odors or the loss of aroma during shipment. Tea is sometimes allowed to absorb the scent from various flowers; jasmine and mango are particular favourites.

History of Tea

Tea: A Story of Serendipity

As legend has it, one day in 2737 B.C. the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was boiling drinking water over an open fire, believing that those who drank boiled water were healthier. Some leaves from a nearby Camellia sinensis plant floated into the pot. The emperor drank the mixture and declared it gave one "vigor of body, contentment of mind, and determination of purpose." Perhaps as testament to the emperor's assessment, tea--the potion he unwittingly brewed that day--today is second only to water in worldwide consumption. The U.S. population is drinking its fair share of the brew; in 1994, Americans drank 2.25 billion gallons of tea in one form or another--hot, iced, spiced, flavored, with or without sugar, honey, milk, cream, or lemon. A serving of tea generally contains about 40 milligrams of caffeine (less than half as much caffeine as in coffee), but the actual levels vary depending on the specific blend and the strength of the brew. Decaffeinated tea is also available. Many tea drinkers find the beverage soothing, and folk medicine has long valued it as a remedy for sore throats and unsettled stomachs. Recent studies have shown that certain chemicals in tea called polyphenols may help reduce the risk of far more serious illnesses, including atherosclerosis and some cancers, although the data are not conclusive. Tea comes in black, green and oolong varieties, all produced from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, a white-flowered evergreen. The method of processing the leaf distinguishes the three types. (Herbal teas are made from leaves of other plants. FDA requires that herbal tea labels carry the name of the plant the product derives from, such as chamomile. For more on herbal teas, see "Herbal Teas and Toxicity" in the May 1991 FDA Consumer.)   

TEA And Its Health Benefits

A Cup of Hot Tea = A Cup of Good Health
Tea Consumption Linked to Numerous Body Benefits
A hot cup of tea may do more than relax you. Research shows tea consumption may help prevent a wide range of ailments.

     The latest medical research is finding potential healing powers in this ancient beverage. Recent research, for instance, suggests drinking tea may help prevent everything from cavities to Parkinson's disease. And some studies indicate it may even save lives. The benefits of tea consumption may extend throughout the body, experts believe. Here is a partial list of conditions some research has shown may be prevented or improved by drinking tea: Arthritis: Research suggests that older women who are tea drinkers are 60 percent less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who do not drink tea. Bone Density: Drinking tea regularly for years may produce stronger bones. Those who drank tea on a regular basis for 10 or more years had higher-bone mineral density in their spines than those who had not. Cancer: Green tea extracts were found to inhibit the growth of bladder cancer cells in the lab — while other studies suggest that drinking green tea protects against developing stomach and esophageal cancers.

10 Effective Ways To Exile Winter Dandruff

       Dandruff is caused by an excess of malassezia fungus, which causes small, white, embarrassing flakes to fall from your scalp to your favorite black sweater for the whole world to see. Luckily, we have ten effective tips for fighting winter dandruff…

1. Try a New Shampoo

Oftentimes, scalp fungus will start to grow in excess due to hair products. If you’ve used the same shampoo for quite some time and started noticing dandruff, it may be worth switching to a different brand of shampoo, made with milder more natural ingredients

CURING DISEASES

CURING DISEASE (By Ron Kurtus (revised 24 October 2013)

 If you contract a disease, it is possible to cure the ailment. Diseases are caused by outside agents that may attack cells in your body, poison them or deprive cells of their nutrition. Sometimes—like in the case of cancer—your own cells may be the cause of the problem. Curing a disease consists of stopping these outside agents from attacking you and ridding them from your body. You have natural defenses to fight off many of these attacks. Medicines and operations are also often used to cure diseases. Finally, there are alternative medical practices that sometimes help cure diseases. Questions you may have include: How does the body cure a disease? What are the standard methods of curing a disease? How do alternative practices affect becoming cured?

NATURAL CURING

When the body is attacked by foreign agents—such as bacteria, viruses, mold spores, fungi and even physical objects —specialized cells in the body go into action to destroy the invaders or to encapsulate them and expel them from the body.

10 Ways To Fight Depression

Depression is a terrible, debilitating thing that thankfully, more often than not,can be beaten with some simple lifestyle changes. Sure, it takes work. But all good things in life take work. And given what’s at stake (your well being and happiness) it’s worth it.
I struggled with a relatively persistent depression for several years in my mid-twenties. It was the result of many things: poor health, stress, over-indulgence,taking on too many responsibilities, feeling incompetent as a philosophy student/teacher, lack of control, nihilism, cynicism, etc.
Very often, the root of depression is physical. Poor physical health, lack of exposure to the sun, vitamin deficiency, sedentary lifestyles, etc. There are certainly cases of depression that are due to massive chemical imbalance in the brain, and these sometimes require professional medical attention and prescription drugs. And there are those who are dealing with depression that is primarily rooted in deep psychological trauma.
But most people are simply dealing with a depression that emerges from displacement: social displacement, environmental displacement, nutritional displacement, emotional displacement, spiritual displacement. And the key to fixing the depression is to engage and nurture your body and your soul: to give
them what they need. What they were made for.

Here are 10 tips for dealing with depression. No one of these tips will work on it’s own. They have a cumulative effect and together will contribute to a much healthier mental life. I haven’t dealt with serious depression in years thanks tobthese simple changes to my lifestyle. If you have any to add, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

What Is Depression

What Is Depression

Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad. But these feelings are usually short-lived and pass within a couple of days. When you have depression, it interferes with daily life and causes pain for both you and those who care about you. Depression is a common but serious illness. Many people with a depressive illness never seek treatment. But the majority, even those with the most severe depression, can get better with treatment. Medications, psychotherapies, and other methods can effectively treat peoplebwith depression.

There are several forms of depressive disorders.

What Bad Breath Says About Your Health

No one likes to hear it, but we’ve all had bad breath. It might strike first thing
in the morning or after a particularly garlicky meal. Regardless, sometimes no
amount of mouthwash or breath mints will banish a nasty case of halitosis. However, if bad breath becomes chronic, it might become more than an embarrassing problem or even tooth decay. Lingering halitosis may indicate an underlying health issue that you aren’t even aware of.
So let’s forget about the awkward social mortification for a moment and discuss the many health conditions that persistent bad breath might indicate. Here are the ten most common medical conditions that cause bad breath…

WELCOME TO SOUND HEALTH'S BLOG: THE WONDERS OF SHEA BUTTER (Magical for your skin).

WELCOME TO SOUND HEALTH'S BLOG: THE WONDERS OF SHEA BUTTER (Magical for your skin).

Woes in Pregnancy and Honey Remedies

Did you just search for
"pregnancy and honey" in hope that there would be some easy ways to get out of pains such as heartburns, colds and morning sickness during pregnancy? Read on to find your relief...

Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn during pregnancy is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy. Hormones released during pregnancy allow the softening of the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach.

     When this happens, stomach acids back up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation. This may also occur in the latter months of pregnancy as your baby pushes all of your organs upward. You may experience heartburn as a burning sensation in your throat or chest. Other women experience heartburn as a large lump like feeling in their throat or upper chest. Fortunately there are ways to minimize your heartburn woes during pregnancy and honey with milk recipe is one of them.
Mixing some honey with your milk is very good for helping neutralize the excess of stomach acid. Drink a glass of milk every night before going to bed.

Honey Nutrition Facts

      How can we miss these important honey nutrition facts when trying to understand what honey is made of and its benefits? Here I have the information:
   Nectar itself is composed mainly of sucrose and water. Bees add enzymes that create additional chemical compounds, inverting the sucrose into fructose and glucose, and then evaporate the water so that the resulting product will resist spoiling.

Minerals we have in Honey.

Hence, honey is a source of carbohydrates, containing
* 80% natural sugar -- mostly fructose and glucose. Due to the high level of fructose, honey is sweeter than table sugar.
* 18% water. The less water content the honey has, the better the quality of honey.
* 2% minerals, vitamins, pollen and protein.
The vitamins present in honey are B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids . The minerals found in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.

Honey And Its Health Benefit

      Honey is a sweet, thick sugary solution made by bees. The composition of honey consists of varying proportions of fructose,
glucose, water, oil and special enzymes produced by bees.
(Glucose and fructose are types of suger)

Health Benefits of Honey
The 3 key health benefits of honey are related to the fact that:
1. Honey is nature's energy booster
2. Honey is a great immunity system builder
3. Honey is a natural remedy for many ailments

Read below for details......

Tips to Stop Snoring

Try singing
A recent study found that singing exercises could strengthen throat muscles and alleviate snoring, and even sleep apnea. Snoring and sleep apnea can both be the result of weak muscles in the soft palate
and upper throat. The research found that daily singing exercises reduce the severity, frequency andbloudness of snoring, and improved quality of sleep.

Lose weight
Sometimes adopting a healthy lifestyle and losing weight can diminish snoring. Of course, even thin people can snore, butbit’s another reason to motivate you to lose weight.

Unemployed? Joblessness May Age You More Quickly

      That aging is evident in their DNA, the British researchers reported. More specifically, it is found in the length of the gene tips or caps, referred to as “telomeres.” The shortening of telomeres has long been seen as an indicator of aging.
“Shorter telomeres are linked to a higher risk of age-related conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes,” said study author Jessica Buxton, a research associate in the department of medicine at Imperial College London. “It seems that long-term unemployment is the latest example of a stressful life experience that may trigger permanent changes to the cell’s DNA.
  

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

“It’s important to note that other studies have shown too much work can be as harmful as too little,” she said. “Work-related exhaustion and the holding of multiple jobs have also been linked to shorter telomeres.”
The report was published Nov. 20 in the online journal PLoS One.
Constant stress over a long time changes the hormones in one’s body, said Curtis Reisinger, a clinical psychologist at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, N.Y. This may be what is causing these changes in telomere length.
“You see the same thing with depression and high stress levels,” he said. “The consequence is that you wind up looking and feeling older.”
Reisinger said seeing a mental-health professional can help relieve stress. But having a positive attitude also is important.
“This is not the end of the world,” he said. “You have to stay focused and have faith that if you keep at it and have a positive outlook, chances are you will be more likely to get a job than if you’re down in the dumps and pessimistic.” For the study, Buxton and her colleagues examined DNA from more than 5,600 men and women born in Finland in 1966. Specifically, they looked at telomere length in DNA samples collected in 1997, when the participants were 31 years old. The researchers found that men who were unemployed for more than two out of the previous three years were more than twice as likely to have short telomeres compared with men who were employed.
To be sure their findings resulted from unemployment alone, the researchers accounted for other social, biological and behavioral factors that could cause shortened telomeres.
“It’s interesting that unemployment itself appears to have a negative effect on health, even after accounting for the potential effects of smoking, physical-activity levels, weight, illness, education and marital status,” Buxton said.
Buxton’s team found this effect among men and not women, which might be because there were fewer unemployed women in the study, she said.